Chlorine / bromine feeder not delivering - variable speed pump

[Cybergy]

I recently had a warranty replacement of my new-ish Hayward VS pump. The GFI breaker was tripping pretty much every day and it turned out the pump was the problem. Hayward shipped me a brand new motor and control to connect to the existing wet-end of the pump. All connections for pump and bromine feeder remain as they were with the old pump. Bromine feeder used to work fine.

New pump works great but now I no longer am getting bromine in the pool from my Hayward chlorine feeder (bromine in my case).

I have been trying to find the right speed to most efficiently run my new pump (electricity here in Ontario is ridiculously expensive). But I had wondered if the low RPMs were not enough to push the bromine feeder. So I bumped that up.

What I have tested so far;
- connections to feeder appear to be fine. Not blocked, etc.
- water is entering and exiting the bromine feeder (water level rises and drops inside as the dial is turned on and off)
- pump speed had been set to run at only 1000RPM, but after reading posts on pump speed I have jacked it up to 2500RPM for between 4 and 8 hours per day.
- the output side of the bromine feeder does deliver pressure and water.
- the connection point for the output side (at the return pipe, not the feeder itself) is not plugged. Water comes out when the pump is at 2500RPM. Suprisingly, at 1000RPM no water comes out of the feeder connection point in the return pipe.


Anyone have any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this issue? I am getting algae forming regularly of course. Bleach is the only way I can get sanitizer in the pool now.

 

[pooldv]

I'm not all that familiar with bromine but I believe that chlorine needs to be added regularly to activate the bromine. More here, How do I use Bromine in my spa (or pool)?

 

[Cybergy]

Thanks for your reply.

That's not the case. I have been sanitizing with bromine for about 10 years now. All I do is add bromine pucks to the feeder and occasionally baking soda to the pool to manage the alkalinity.

The bromine pucks are not even dissolving in the feeder, so I think something is wrong with the feeder or the pressure differential required to pass water through it.

 

[satpoolman]

Suprisingly, at 1000RPM no water comes out of the feeder connection point in the return pipe.

The chlorinator Check Valve Outlet Adapter may be clogged with just enough gunk to slow the water flow at 1K RPM. The Inlet Adapter and Check Valve Outlet Adapter looks similar, but the latter has a ball check that "clicks" when you shake it. Worth taking a look at.

Regards,
E

 

[Cybergy]

Ok I emptied the feeder and thoroughly rinsed it out. I can hear the ball moving freely when I shake it.

Hopefully that will do it.